The semester is over. Time to start thinking about the Fall.
Our bookstore at UM, Follett, has a new system, called CaféScribe, for electronic textbooks, in order to reduce student costs, support new pedagogical techniques, save paper, and lighten backpacks. Wendy Smith, Store Director of the UM Bookstore, wendy.smith@miami.edu, 305-284-4463, is interested in finding a "limited number" of classes from a variety of disciplines that will adopt and use their electronic books, so that we all can gain experience with the process. Follett will have 4,000 electronic textbook titles, using CaféScribe, available by this fall.
If you are interested in participating in the trial, and I hope you are, please contact Wendy directly. She is looking for experimenters and early adopters and will be limiting the numbers, so please apply by don't feel hurt if you aren't part of the trial group.
For more information, (1) read the letter from Wendy, below, (2) check the additional details on the "FolleteTextbooks.pdf" flyer on the http://idisk.mac.com/wvilberg-Public?view=web web site, and/or (3) go to http://www.cafescribe.com/ for the official web site. Then let Wendy know that you are interested.
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Dear UM Faculty,
Hard to believe that another term is just almost behind us and that we are well into our preparation for a successful Fall 2009 term. To date you have received a variety of communications requesting your adoptions, in addition to the $772,000 we saved our students last year by either having used books available and/or the ability to pay half back to our students at the end of term.
With that said-I would like to take this opportunity to communicate an exciting addition to our portfolio of course materials available for this fall. The UM Bookstore in partnership with CafeScribe offers downloadable digital textbooks to be used in a format that our students are most comfortable with. The benefits are numerous-but, most important to note that the cost of this digital textbook typically sells for 50% of the traditional text. Attached is a detailed document that defines CafeScribe and lists many of the benefits for the students and the faculty alike.
By this Fall-we are slated to have access to about 4,000 etextbooks. We are currently seeking a limited number of faculty to adopt CafeScribe as a required course material for this Fall. Please contact me directly with your questions and/or interest in implementing CafeScribe.
With your continued support, we look forward to a successful adoption of this enhanced educational resource on our UM Campus.
Regards,
Wendy
Wendy Smith
Store Director
UM Bookstore
305.284.4463
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Bill Vilberg
Instructional Advancement Center
